1 SET THE SCENE

Before commencing a design review ensure that the setting is prepped with all the tools yourself as the designer/client will need, this can include:

• Issue the current design to all stakeholders prior to the meeting and encourage feedback direct to yourself (as the manager). This allows for a set of information to be collated before the meeting and can even form the agenda. In doing this design queries can be raised without fear of backlash or isolation during a public setting like a design meeting… this also minimises surprises and ensures that things stay on track.
• Print outs of the current design – this allows for marks ups to be completed during the review, helping everyone keep track of the feedback process.
• Have paper and pen on hand, sometimes the quickest way to communicate something is to draw it. Big thumbs up if you have tracing paper on hand too!
• Ensure you have the parameters for the project with you; it is important that these are referred to when reviewing the design.
• Go in with an open mindset – accept that design changes are inevitable (we don’t recommend design changes half-way through construction though…)

2 COLLABORATIVE APPROACH

Approach feedback in a collaborative and tangible way. Most people struggle with direct criticism. Planting a seed of an idea instead of phrasing it off-handedly is far more effective.

For example: “I wonder if we tried it this way…would it improve so-and-so?”

By giving guidance, not answers, this allows people to stop and think, whilst avoiding treading on any toes, giving opportunity for them to contribute to the discussion. This can be a very helpful approach when working with more difficult personalities, helping them to feel personally invested in the solution and more motivated to see it implemented.

Understanding that not everyone will be 100% happy all the time is the reality of a creative process. Reaching a consensus sometimes means ideas are cut or plans change, but it is important that everyone remains informed throughout this process, so that when a decision is reached your team is 100% satisfied that they understand why, how and what that means for the project.

3 FEEDBACK STYLE

One of the most important things about feedback is the style of communication you adopt for different professional goals. Each design discipline has a different perspective on what a successful project is. This can create an unconscious bias when reviewing a design. Remaining aware of how this impacts your communications, will not only allow you to effectively manage your communication but will also support you in empathising with other project team members goals. . By adapting your verbal communication style to one that is calmer and encouraging will create a more comfortable environment to take feedback on board.

The reality is that you will work with all types of professions and understanding that your goals for a project will be different to the person sitting besides, is the key to altering your own communication style to help blend with and supporting the design goals of everyone no matter what your role in project is.

4 HIGHLIGHT THE POSITIVES

It is impossible to find design that is without flaw whether you are the client or colleague of the designer it is very easy for your judgement to be clouded by negatives, even if the positives out way them. Without this positive feedback it can leave the designer feeling defeated.

This does not mean you should ignore the negatives though!

Rather when giving feedback be sure to integrate the positives no matter how small you think they are. Including this positive feedback at the end of a review makes it easier to process any negative feedback, motivates the designer, and literally ends it on a positive note. Nothing beats a compliment sandwich.

5 CHALLENGE GROUPS

An innovative way to receive more diverse feedback is to compose a challenge group. A challenge group is a group of people who are not only outside of the design field but also don’t necessarily have stake in the project. With little knowledge of the project these groups often start by asking the question ‘Why?’ prompting the designer/client to think deeper.

This brings fresh eyes to a design review, that will often find areas for improvement that the designer or client wouldn’t have seen before. Particularly helpful if you and the designer/client find yourself stuck.

Design reviews can be one of the hardest parts of any project. Trying to get everyone to agree on the same idea is ultimately impossible, but the questioning, the back-and-forth feedback, and the compromise are the vital components in the design process.  We won’t deny it – this can be a demanding process. But in the studio, we’ve found that these five key points offer a guide to design feedback that can elevate a simple arch into a Colosseum.